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  Toilet with spinning bowl and water jetUSPTO Application #: 20070011801Title: Toilet with spinning bowl and water jet Abstract: A toilet uses very little water to flush waste material. To flush, a lower part of the bowl is lowered from a sealed position against a bowl side to an unsealed position spaced from the bowl side, and spun. Centrifugal force and a jet of water flush the inside of the bowl bottom. Odors are controlled by sealing the bowl bottom to the bowl side. (end of abstract)
Agent: Young & Thompson - Arlington, VA, US Inventor: R. Clark DuBois USPTO Applicaton #: 20070011801 - Class: 004442000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Flush Closet, Bowl, Valved Dischage, Pivoted Valve, Pan Type The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070011801. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to a toilet with a low gallons-per-flush (GPF) rating. [0002] Toilets, especially those on vehicles such as boats and aircraft, preferably use a small quantity of water for each flush so as to avoid burdening a holding tank for the discharge. Further, smaller GPF ratings result in smaller holding tanks that require less space and add less weight to the vehicle. Toilets with lower GPF ratings also are less burdensome on the environment regardless of where they are used. [0003] Various types of low GPF toilets are available, including those that use a vacuum to remove waste material. However, these toilets are typically expensive and make considerable noise. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel toilet with a low GPF rating that avoids the problems of the prior art. [0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel toilet with a movable bowl bottom that, when the toilet is flushed, moves from a sealed position to a discharge position and then spins to eject waste material into a waste collection space. [0006] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a novel toilet with a bowl bottom that is movable between a sealed position abutting a bowl side and an unsealed (flushing) position spaced from the bowl side, where the bowl bottom is rotatable about an axis when in the unsealed position; an arm with one end attached to the toilet and an opposite end rotatably attached to the axis of the bowl bottom; a liquid discharge nozzle that directs a liquid onto the bowl bottom; and a flush switch that moves the arm so that the bowl bottom moves from the sealed position to the unsealed position and operates the liquid discharge nozzle, thereby using less than 0.1 GPF. [0007] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art of the present invention after consideration of the following drawings and description of preferred embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a side view in partial cross section of an embodiment of the present invention showing the bowl bottom in the sealed position. [0009] FIG. 2 is a side view in partial cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the bowl bottom in the unsealed (flushing) position. [0010] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show alternative embodiments of the liquid discharge nozzle of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 4 is a side view in partial cross section of a further embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 5 is a side view in partial cross section of a yet further embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] A toilet of the present invention can be flushed with less than 0.1 gallon of water, thereby offereing a substantial water savings over existing toilets. The amount of water used per flush can be set depending on how far the waste is to be moved; for example, a home toilet connected to a sewer system may be rated at 0.8 GPF (instead of the present 1.6 GPF), while in vehicles with a nearby holding tank the toilet can be rated at less than 0.1 GPF. [0014] With reference now to FIG. 1, toilet 10 may have a conventional exterior, with a bowl support 12, cover 14, and seat 16. Bowl space 18 is defined by a cylindrical bowl side 20 and a movable bowl bottom 22 that provides a seal with respect to bowl side 20 (including an extension of bowl support 12 that abuts bowl side 20 as shown in the figures). With cover 14 lifted, bowl space 18 looks familiar and may or may not have water in it. Toilet 10 may be mounted to a bathroom floor 30 in a conventional manner and connected to waste piping 32. The waste piping may have a vent pipe 34 and may include a blower 36 to vent odors (such as an electric blower). The vent may open to outside a living area, often through a roof 38. As no water tank is needed, toilet 10 can be close to a wall 40, which saves space. With bowl bottom 22 in the sealed position shown in solid line in FIG. 1, odors are trapped in waste collection space 42 beneath bowl bottom 22. A flush switch 44, such as a conventional flushing handle, may be provided. [0015] In toilets that have water in bowl space 18 (typically, those rated to use more water, such as 0.8 GPF) the seal between bowl bottom 22 and bowl side 20 is water-tight. When bowl bottom 22 in the sealed position, bowl space 18 may receive an appropriate amount of water (e.g., two quarts). When bowl bottom 22 is lowered, this water will drain out and take much of the waste with it. Spinning bowl bottom 22 after it has been lowered (as explained below) will remove more of the waste due to centrifugal force. [0016] Alternatively, when less water is to be used (such as 0.1 GPF or less), the seal between bowl bottom 22 and bowl side 20 is loose (such as with defined gaps) so that when bowl bottom 22 is in the sealed position a small amount of air can be drawn by blower 36 through bowl space 18 and waste collection space 42 to allow air-loving bacteria to do decompose material in waste collection space 42 and to prevent escape of odors. In this embodiment, when bowl bottom 22 is lowered, the waste material falls into waste collection space 42. Thereafter, spinning bowl bottom 22, in conjunction with a small amount of liquid from a liquid discharge nozzle (discussed below), cleans bowl bottom 22. [0017] The dashed line in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show bowl bottom 22 in the unsealed (flushing) position in which it is spaced from and below bowl side 20. Bowl bottom 22 is mounted on an arm 46 controlled by a device 48 for moving arm 46 when the toilet is flushed (such as a motor or mechanical connection). Arm 46 has one end that supports a rotational center of bowl bottom 22 and an opposite end that is moved by device 48. Arm 46 is arranged so that when bowl bottom 22 is in the sealed position an entire periphery of bowl bottom 22 is sealed to a bottom of bowl side 20 (water-tight or loose seal depending on the amount of water to be used, as explained above) and so that when bowl bottom 22 is in the unsealed position one sector of the periphery of bowl bottom 22 is closer to the bottom of bowl side 20 than a radially opposite sector. In other words, in this embodiment arm 46 moves in an arc causing bowl bottom 22 to tilt as shown in FIG. 2 to facilitate expelling material deposited thereon. [0018] A separate motor 50 may be provided beneath bowl bottom 22 for rotating bowl bottom 22 when the toilet is flushed and bowl bottom 22 has been moved by device 48 to the unsealed position. Bowl bottom 22 may be mounted on a shaft of motor 50. When bowl bottom 22 is lowered so that bowl bottom 22 is no longer sealed to a bottom of side 20, motor 50 spins bowl bottom 22 to expel material deposited thereon. [0019] A liquid discharge nozzle 52 may be provided for further cleaning bowl bottom 22. As is known, waste material can stick even to smooth surfaces and a liquid jet can help remove stuck material. Nozzle 52 may be connected to a water source and directed toward a rotational center of bowl bottom 22 in the unsealed position. Nozzle 52 may provide a single stream or a fan-shaped spray from a position above a water level of bowl space 18. As bowl bottom 22 rotates, liquid from nozzle 52 sweeps across the surface of bowl bottom 22 to clean bowl bottom 22. The angle at which the liquid strikes bowl bottom 22 should be low to reduce spatter. The nozzle opening may be about 1/8 inch in diameter, which with normal water pressure provides sufficient power. By way of example, water may used as the liquid and may be ON for 15 seconds to use about a quart of water. Rotation of bowl bottom 22 and the cleaning action of the nozzle each helps insure a clean surface. The nozzle may be turned ON and OFF several times in a defined sequence as bowl bottom 22 is lowered and rotated. It is preferable to use a strong jet of liquid for a short period of time, rather than a weak jet for a long period of time. [0020] In an alternative embodiment, motor 50 may be replaced with a different means for rotating bowl bottom 22. Nozzle 52 may be directed to a position offset from a rotational center of bowl bottom 22 to cause bowl bottom 22 to rotate. Alternatively, a second liquid discharge nozzle may be directed near an edge of bowl bottom 22 to cause it to rotate or, with a fan-shaped spray, a majority of the liquid may be offset from the rotational center. Bowl bottom 22 may be mounted on a bearing and may have a speed governor 54 to limit a rotational speed of bowl bottom 22. A conventional governor, where the centrifugal force of an off center weight applies a breaking action, is simple, low cost, and straightforward. Slower speeds are desirable to reduce the turbulence of the odor-laden air and to prevent aerosols forming because of high velocity ejection of the waste material. Tests have shown that a spinning speed of a few hundred revolutions per minute is reasonable. Continue reading... Full patent description for Toilet with spinning bowl and water jet Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toilet with spinning bowl and water jet patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Toilet with spinning bowl and water jet or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Swimming pool liner Next Patent Application: Sitz bath for treating hemorrhoids Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Toilet with spinning bowl and water jet patent info. 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